World Championships, Day Two Prelims (Men): Pieter Coetze Returns to Global Racing By Claiming Top Seed in 100 Backstroke
Heading into the World Championships in Doha, much of the conversation focused on the stars who decided to opt out of the competition and place their focus on Olympic preparation. But on Night One of action, Pan Zhanle assured some speed would be on display, as he led off China’s gold-medal-winning 400-meter freestyle relay with a world record split of 46.80 for the 100 freestyle.
The second day of prelims featured a pair of men’s events – the 100 backstroke and 200 freestyle. Pan was back in action in the 200 freestyle, where he had the chance to show his versatility in the freestyle events. Here is what took place in the Day Two men’s preliminaries.
100 Backstroke
After deciding to skip last summer’s World Championships in Fukuoka, South Africa’s Pieter Coetze displayed his talent by earning the No. 1 seed for the semifinals of the 100 backstroke. Coetze produced a time of 53.32 to place ahead of Greece’s Evangelos Makrygiannis, who was second during the prelims in 53.43.
Spain’s Hugo Gonzalez was third in 53.61 while American Hunter Armstrong was fourth-quickest in 53.66. Armstrong was the bronze medalist in this event in Fukuoka, where Ryan Murphy and Thomas Ceccon earned gold and silver. Neither Murphy or Ceccon are competing in Doha.
200 Freestyle
Coming off a medal in the 400 freestyle and riding a wave of momentum by his country, Germany’s Lukas Martens clocked 1:45.74 to move into the semifinals of the 200 freestyle as the No. 1 seed. Martens was one of three swimmers to go faster than 1:46, as he was joined by countryman Rafael Miroslaw (1:45.89) and Lithuania’s Danas Rapsys (1:45.95).
Great Britain’s Duncan Scott and American Luke Hobson were fourth and fifth, respectively, with Scott touching the wall in 1:46.09. Hobson was timed in 1:46.54.
Placing 38th in 1:51.03 was China’s Pan Zhanle, who set the world record of 46.80 in the 100 freestyle on the opening day of competition.
